GoDaddy Problems – stay away if you can

GoDaddy Problems – stay away if you can

November 27th, 2006 // 5:11 pm @ Amar

I recently had a very very strange problem with godaddy for registering my domain. Never going to use them for anything and will never recommend them. Just want to share it with all of you so that you guys don’t face it.

I registered a domain name from godaddy after hearing about them from various recommendations and websites. Firstly the registration process if full of adverts, coaxing you to spend more on their special plans and trying to trick you into paying more at some places. So be very careful on what you click and review the order very carefully in case you ever purchase a domain from them. Anyways after all complexities I finally managed to register a domain name successfully from them and paid out of my paypal account. Pointed the domain to my hosting site, and after a few hours everything was up and working fine.

Two days passed without any problems. The site was absolutely fine, the domain was working as it should, and I was the registrar of the domain according to the whois records for the domain. Then suddenly, I receive 2 emails from godaddy. One, stating that my cancellation request has been processed and they are cancelling the registration of my domain. The second email status that the refund for my registration has been issued and I received the refund in my paypal account immediately. I had never asked for cancellation and as such, never wanted to cancel my domain.

I know when you cancel a domain or it expires, it will go into a 90 day freeze period. But strangely, when I checked the status of the domain, it was showing available. When browsing to the domain, it was working fine and taking me to my site. So the DNS servers had not been updated yet with this info. This was all so shocking. I suddenly find that I have lost control of my domain and it is again in the open market for anyone to register. It was as if the godaddy system just rolled back all my transactions.

An email to godaddy got me a response that due to the complex nature of this problem it has been submitted to their advanced technology group ( or something like that ) for investigation. After that it has been 2 days and I have not heard anything. Anyways, I did not wait that long for it. I quickly re-registered my domain from namecheap.com and thankfully am now again the owner of my domain. Namecheap is cheaper than godaddy, their registration process is simple, not riddled with advertising and additional packages, and does not try to trick you into paying more as godaddy does. Really impressed with them. The control panel is great and allows for all kinds of domain control. One limitation is to get the auth code or EPP code of the domain it will take 24/48 hours. Other companies provide it instantly, but I guess I can live with 24/48 hour wait as long as they are giving it. I can always request the auth code and save it beforehand so that in case I ever want to transfer away from them.

So that’s the story. After a lot of research, I think what might have happened is that godaddy initiated the clause for domain tasting which allows anyone to refund a domain within 5 days or registration. But I never asked for it, nor did I find any option which stated that, or to confirm my purchase and not have it refunded. So it was very strange and upsetting to see that they suddenly released my domain without my permission into the open market. Anyways, I guess their advanced technology group ( or whatever ) may still be investigating into the issue, but I don’t care. They can go on investigating, but have lost this customer for good and all my clients and friends will never get my recommendation for buying any of godaddy’s services.

I would recommend you all to stay away from them, but if you do decide to go ahead, do be careful and vigilant so that you can act the very instant you find you are no longer in control of your domain.

Category : General